The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-10-01
CA.R''LOTlA.

/ CARLOITA.
! l Bhuddcred when l hid that carefully
folded note under the cold white hand
but what could I do? She had waited
long, long time for its tardy coming; and
at last, when hope and faith and coursgt
all failed her, she folded her wasted band.
over her patient heart, 80 weary will
watching and praying--so glad to rest.
found her there. Her face rcnycely
whittier. as the early lunshine touched Il
with gentle glory, than 1t had bsen iol
many years. NS'5'i NT y
Ny beautiful sister Carlotta. She looked
80 IKE some fairy statue, lying there on the
olu.iashicred oak hetstead, with the p,et.
ty blue aud white drapery about her.
had Rrownu up there in the old house, with
no SITTER, and only my twin brother Hugh,
proud, tmpetuous boy, who had made
more trouble Tor his parents than dozen
boys ought, and, at last, after being OK.
PEELED from school in disgrace, and run.
ming away from home, he married this
brilliant t.opic hlosaom Of girl and went
to work like hero, determined to support
her. Unframed TO any, businees, unused!
to any labor, Of course he soon gave up,
and then, In fit OF despair, he wrote 10
mo, telling mo what no had done; Asking
Tor assistance, or, at least, advice, and
promising all sorts Of good behavior il The
future. Z Is III 20 3 s. w ~ -I-
Without any special faith in his Oft
broken promises, l VAS delighted with the
romance OF tho whole affair, and readily
Promised to do all I could for him; to
make father forgive him and take him
back once more, ard 10 find warm spot
in moshat'G tried heart for her, the pre-
cious sister | should be glad to welcome
to my lonely home. sYY&S1 -" :
Ihey came very coon; evidently Hugh'e
reeoufcea were quite exhausted, and he
was glad to come upon any terms. Father
received him very co!dy, yet for his own
pride's sake, he said, he would not alloy
any woman to suffer en- account OF the
mieconduct OF his acn. As though q roof
Tor shelter and food to Ga. were all that
woman needed 10 prevent her suffering.
AND mother, poor, patient, long.sufIe1ing
motner, ahs never was 9emonstratiyc, bnt
she pitied the beautiful, helpless gill and
did all she could TO mako her happy. (. g
Hugh stayed at home for o short time,
seeming determined to do the very, beet
be could but there wsa only the old farm
to work upon, and seemed 10 give but
grudgingly Ito meager returns for all tho
labor wasted upon II. =, ".5l,5 Z tsls 3
30 the 1eatiess, impetuous fellow grew
West. "a r. % 20 .
sCarlotta begged him not to go and it
was easy to perceive the. her heart wss in
her words. $50, +. : M
She loved him with that intense, IN
selfish. personal devotion which one wo-
man in a thousand feels, and ono nan in
| ten thousand appreciates. Allan, that
Hugh did not! Il -555.2 = ~, II
He was proud Of her s!ranga, bright
beauty, !ont Of her pretty, aHacsionste
ways, and moro amused than thankful for
her excessive devotion. lssg t -5t.
He kissed her good bye one morning
as caIelessly as though he had been going
| ont to NOV the long meadow, and then
when the night came be came not. e
| We who wsro accustomed to his erratic
movements did not think much OF his alb.
, selce, but Carlotta maurned and erieyed
in frightened, nervous .wsy tina! was as
painful as pitisbls. W =, ..-2. 81,
In few dsys, three or four at the most,
she received a brief, characteristic letter
from her truant huaband, in which he
! told. hes that he had determined .upoa
making a fortune for himneli, and go had
gore to tho oil regions, where money was
easy and rapidly accumulated. i5H5
Carlot'a was delighted, and cha.ted gay.
ly about the beautiful hons we would all
have BY and by; for she was IN Affection
ate little. creature, and loved us as though
We bad ltesa aof ;eVa relatives, while
III turn alnoat WoIshinod heF, ia g f.
For q few weeks Hugh wrote regularly,
then came intervals Of eilence, during
! Ghic}1 the poor child watched with rest
less snxte!y fo1s letsers that che never
doubled were miscarried or lost, and when
they came sho would bs happy and con.
tented until It vas time to expect another.
Thia went on ior awhile, and then the
letters stopped altogether. x re tsSz
Days grey 70 weeks, and months drag.
tged slowly By.
Carlo.ta mourned and irstted and
grieyed. "a y 4, 4: ;s-ss
WAS he sick? was no dead 2" abe con.
stantly asked, and even when her voice
was mute har pleading eyes and quivcring
lips and trembling hands begged for come
assurance Of his satety. d; & .sl Z. !ss .t
| 1t was In vain that VIC tried to laugh at
her fears, to tell her how utterly careless
Hugh wau about writing; abe knew he
would write 10 her, that BIO would not
forget how nervous she grew in HIS sb.
sercs II she did not hear very often. &. ~
And 60 year. went YEARLY and eaGly
by. l think that ,Carlotta had mover
realized until>t that anniversary day how
long y time had elapsed since he left Us !;
but after that her eyes grew more pitifpl,
her voice more pleading. a#52
Despair had overtaken the place Of
hope, and We could see that she was fail.
ing day by day. 50 .t:2:
sho tulked no moro OF her husband, Of
his coming. I wanted mother to let Us 20
away: for q few weeks, but l euppoae
father could not spare the money, and 30
watched my darling, beautiful sister
slipping away from me. ~ l,f 55 & I,
+ The neighbora esid she was in decline,
and shook their heads gravely when / in.
sisted upon 1t that she would soon be we'll.
Slower snd slower her atep grew, fainter
and fainter the pink flush faded from her
cheek, aud ope morning, it was early in
September and the big maple tree byst
east window was streaked and flushed all
over its greon leaves with dashes Of Grim.
pon. i; 6
II had risen at Eve o'clock, IS usual, and
her perfect stillnesa had filled me with a
strange awe, 90 1 dressed and hurried
down to help mother. I think II was sn
bonr aiterwsrd that I stole upstairs to sse
| II she would have Fonc cream toast fol
breakfast. NJ 4 s ;e5iS
There eho 10y, with the changeIul glory
Of the sunrise touching her pale brow, hel
hali:cloeed eyes, her white, smiling face.